A Sequel to Dokumushi: First time is a harm, second time is a charm

This manga is the sequel to previous manga and is set in the same universe as previous Kodoku. The theme of it is still the same but is somewhat refined than prequel. What changed then? Is art what influences you to think its a better story? Or was the prequel there just to flesh out this sequel in a better way? Short answer, it is both (according to me).

• The manga

The story follows a group of men and women who meet on online occult website and decide to do a pseudo-kodoku at an abandoned love hotel. The plan was simple, no electronics, only food and living in the fully sealed hotel for a few days to experience a Kodoku. But obviously everything goes wrong when they realize someone put extra locks on the door. Here on, the story unfolds in a way more complex way than the prequel (or maybe its the art that was suggesting it, the aura effect).
The characters in this sequel appear to be much more complex and fixated on occult than before. Each of them are still sinned but in their own unique, darker ways. These all stem from their circumstances as was in the prequel. Although, they are in constant argument, it somehow feels natural for argument to arise knowing the characters. Because of this, each move made by them doesn't appear to be motivated by plot but something they would actually do.

Spoiler, click to view

Some mature themes like cross-dressing were introduced and darker themes like necrophilia were depicted really well. Rather than to show it as quirks of characters, there was a reason for those depictions to be a part of character. Or maybe its just the art thats affecting my judgement. What I liked more about it was the connection with cult that was made which felt very forceful. I liked it because there was a huge misdirection going through the whole manga and when the final puzzle piece was solved, it all made sense.

The art is top notch. There are more sex scenes and gore scenes and also ero-guro scenes, these are really well done. The character design is handled somewhat badly since I couldn't differentiate between two characters in a few chaos scenes. But I still thoroughly enjoyed the art.

• Comparison with the prequel

The sequel is better that prequel.

Spoiler, click to view

The reason is simple. Prequel treated the whole premise in a third person perspective rather than to be totally biased. It was like re-telling of a real incident or newspaper article read the day before. It was raw. The sequel was more of a puzzle, who is working behind the scenes to orchestrate this whole drama. The characters who thought they were in control suddenly losing control and stuff like this continued happening. There were more finer details and complex actions being taken by the characters.

Due to above, it felt as if the prequel was made just to promote this sequel, a better and more refined story. To lay a base for the original story to be told. Or maybe, my expectations were less after a prequel so this shook me. Either of the reason works for me.

I will try to summarize my own feelings towards this manga in a few sentences.
I loved it. I definitely liked the darker themes and the puzzles in the manga but more so its connection with the prequel that at the end of manga constantly lit up my light bulb in the brain. Rather than feeling hooked, I felt I was in a movie hall watching an amazing story unfold in front of me.
Absolute cinema moment for me.

For people highly disappointed with Dokumushi, they should definitely read the sequel for they will be overjoyed. For satisfied readers of Dokumushi, it will be like getting a blowjob while winning all the gambled money.